Egg carton

ABSTRACT

There is provided a novel form of container for eggs. This container is substantially of the same size as ordinary egg containers but is characterized in that the height of the base of each alternate egg receptacle in a row of egg receptacles in the container is raised from the common ground plane of the remaining receptacles in the container. This form of container reduces the risk of breakage of thin shelled, so called &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;jumbo&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; eggs, while retaining a size of container which is substantially the same as that utilized in the trade.

United States Patent Henry B. Kat:

33 Westview Road, Short Hills, NJ. 07078 873.026

Oct. 31, 1969 Aug. I0, 197 l [72] inventor [2H Appl. No.

[22] Filed [45] Patented [54] EGG CARTON 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 229/25, 229/29 M, 2l7/26.5 [51] Int. Cl. B6511 1/00 [50]Field 0! Search 229/25, 29 M; 2 l 7/26.5

[56] Relerences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Des. 148,824 2/l948 Shepard229/25 X 3,120,901 2/1964 Boyd 3,217,961 11/1965 Hombostel PrimaryExaminer Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. KocovskyA!rorneyLerner, David & Behr ABSTRACT: There is provided a novel form ofcontainer for eggs. This container is substantially of the same size asordinary egg containers but is characterized in that the height of thebase of each alternate egg receptacle in a row of egg receptacles in thecontainer is raised from the common ground plane of the remainingreceptacles in the container. This form of container reduces the risk ofbreakage of thin shelled, so called jumbo eggs, while retaining a sizeof container which is substantially the same as that utilized in thetrade EGG CARTON Description of Prior Art The standard method of packingeggs is to provide for the eggs a container having a receptacle ornesting place for each individual egg. These receptacles are usually ofthe shape of an inverted frustum of a hollow cone opened at the base andclosed at the narrower portion of the frustum. The individualreceptaclesare separated in the container by spacers of various types. Usually thereceptacle are arranged in parallel rows preferably two parallel rows inthe container. In one especially preferred modification of the standardbox, where such boxes to be used for large eggs, there is placed aconical separator at the juncture of each pair of adjacent receptaclesin adjoining rows. This mode of packing has generally been foundsatisfactory for standard or even large eggs. However, the so-calledjumbo eggs create a special problem. Not only are such eggs much largerin overall dimension then the standard or large" eggs but possess theunfortunate characteristic of being unusually thin shelled. Hence theyare extremely sensitive to breakage. Such breakage may occur not onlyfrom external impact which is a problem common to all egg containers butalso from the bumping of one egg against and adjacent egg within thecontainer. This bumping occurs because of the unusual girth of theseeggs which leads to contact or near contact of the widest part of theeggs with their neighbors. A typical carton for large eggs is disclosedin Crabtree U.S. Pat. No. 3,375,966. One approach to the problem oflarge egg bumping is disclosed in Browr U... Pat. No. 2,636,660 whereinthe receptacles in the parallel rows in the container are offsetlaterally so that one egg can nest between two eggs. Olson et al. inU.S. Pat. No. 3,204,848 disclose an egg carton of substantially standardoutside dimensions having in place of the usual two rows of receptaclesthree rows of receptacles wherein the entire center row is verticallyoffset from the plane of the outer two rows in order to accommodate 14small eggs within a carton having substantially the same dimensions as astandard one dozen pack carton.

However, the prior art does not disclose a carton having substantiallythe same outside dimensions as a standard egg carton which containswithin its form any specific provision for the reduction of breakage ofjumbo eggs. Hence it is deemed desirable to provide such a carton.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is provided a novel type of egg cartonespecially, though not exclusively, suited for the packing ofthin-shelled jumbo eggs. The carton of the present invention comprises acontainer having a plurality of single egg receptacles in parallel rowsseparated by separators. The receptacles in the container in adjacentrows are located side by side so that a plane passing through thevertical axis of adjacent receptacles in adjoining rows is perpendicularto a plane passing through the vertical axis of the receptacles in agiven row.

lt is the critical feature of the present invention that the bases ofalternate receptacles in a given row have a first common planedesignated as the common ground plane which is in contact with thesurface upon which the container would rest and a second plane common tothe remaining receptacles in that row, which has a level above that ofthe ground plane. The bases of the receptacles in any given row aretherefore staggered in a vertical plane. This stagger also applied toniljncent receptacles in adjoining rows. Thus where it given receptaclehas its base on the ground plane the receptacle ndjucent to it in theadjoining parallel row has its base on the aforementioned higher plane.Similarly where a given receptacle has its base on the higher plane thereceptacle adjacent to it in the adjoining parallel row would have itsbase on the ground plane. Thus the base of the first receptacle in agiven row will have a common plane with the base of the secondreceptacle in the adjoining row.

While it is not the intention of the present invention to limit thematerial from which the cartons of the present invention may bemanufactured, it is preferred to utilize a shock resistent material.Since cost is an important factor in the manufacture of these containerswhich fall into the throw away" category of merchandise, it has beenfound that molded paper pulp is an especially suitable material fromwhich to construct these cartons.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the side andtop of a container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cartonof FIG. I viewed at FIG. 3 is atop plan view of the container of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The container of the presentinvention is preferably a container 10 of unitary constructioncomprising receptacles 12 and 14 in adjoining parallel rows. While thescope of the invention is not to be considered to be so limited, theconventional container has separated by separators 34 and the adjacenteggs are similarly separated by separators 24. Between each adjacentpair of eggs in adjoining rows it is preferred to place an additionalseparator 18. This separator preferably upwardly tapered risessubstantially above the level of separators 24 and 34 and has,preferably, a conical or pyramidal cross section. In the preferredembodiments these tapered separators, such as pyramid or conicalseparators do not have an apex but are out below the apex to give theform of a frustum of a cone or pyramid.

The individual receptacle is designed to provide a nest for each egg.The receptaclecomprises walls and a base joining said walls on which theegg may rest. As shown in FIG. 2 the receptacles 12 and 14 have asubstantially conical section, again with the apex removed to form afrustum. the flat portion of the hollow frustum parallel to the base ofthe cone forming the base of the receptacle. It is preferred that thebases 20 and 21 of the receptacles l2 and 14 respectively are slightlyraised from the bottom of the receptacle by means of a circumferentialannular irregularity 22 or 23. Since the actual base 20 or 21 of thereceptacle upon which the egg rest is thus out of direct contact withthe surface upon which the container would be placed, the egg is thusfurther insulated from directed external shock.

In the modification of the invention as illustrated the receptacles 12and 14 are topped by a vertical circumferential wall 16 which serves toprotect the upper portion of the egg in the receptacles from externalshock.

In the dividers 24 there are cutouts 26 which permit the wider portionof the egg to bulge slightly out of the receptacle while having the baseof the egg upon the base 20 and 21 of the receptacle. As will be seen inFIG. 2 the raising of the base 20 of receptacle 12 over the level of thebase 21 of receptacle 14 which rests upon the surface upon which thewhole container is, the wide portion of the egg in container 12 islocated above the level of the wide portion of the egg in receptacle 14thus eliminating the possibility of collision between the eggs insidethe container thus avoiding breakage.

It should be noted that the bases of receptacles l4 lie on the firstcommon ground plane and the bases receptacles l2 lie on the secondcommon plane on a higher level.

As will be seen from FIG. 2 it will be seen to be immaterial to thescope lllltl concept of the present invention whether the planesdesignated are those upon which bases 20 and 2| lie or those upon whichirregularities 22 and 23 lie.

I claim:

I. An egg carton comprising a container having a. a plurality ofseparate receptacles for each egg,

b. each of said receptacles having 1. walls 2. a base joined to saidwalls upon which base the egg will rest in said receptacle'cQseparatdrs, said separators being located between and connected toadjacent receptacles, and being appropriate "dimensions to preventcontact between adjacent eggs in such adjacent receptacles,

' wherein said receptacles are arranged in said container in at leasttwo parallel rows provided that a first vertical plane passing through afirst axis of each receptacle in a row is perpendicular to a secondvertical plane passing through a second axis of adjacent receptacles inadjoining rows, the improvement wherein the base of each alternatereceptacle in any row has a first common plane and each other alternatereceptacle base in said row as a second common plane wherein said secondcommon plane has a level above said first common plane, further providedthat the base of a first receptacle in a given row have a common planewith the base of a first receptacle in a given row have a common planewith the base of a second receptacle in the adjoining row. I

2. An egg carton of claim l wherein each egg receptacle is in the formof a hollow inverted frustum of a cone.

3. A carton according to claim 2 wherein the separators at a junction offour receptacles constituting two parts of adjacent receptacles in eachof two adjoining rows is upwardly tapered.

4 A carton according to claim 1 wherein the carton is constructed of asubstantially shock absorbent material k 5. A carton accordingly toclaim 4 wherein said shock absorbent material is molded paper pulp. j

1. An egg carton comprising a container having a. a plurality ofseparate receptacles for each egg, b. each of said receptacles having 1.walls
 2. a base joined to said walls upon which base the egg will restin said receptacle c. separators, said separators being located betweenand connected to adjacent receptacles, and being appropriate dimensionsto prevent contact between adjacent eggs in such adjacent receptacles,wherein said receptacles are arranged in said container in at least twoparallel rows provided that a first vertical plane passing through afirst axis of each receptacle in a row is perpendicular to a secondvertical plane passing through a second axis of adjacent receptacles inadjoining rows, the improvement wherein the base of each alternatereceptacle in any row has a first common plane and each other alternatereceptacle base in said row as a second common plane wherein said secondcommon plane has a level above said first common plane, further providedthat the base of a first receptacle in a given row have a common planewith the base of a first receptacle in a given row have a common planewith the base of a second receptacle in the adjoining row.
 2. An eggcarton of claim 1 wherein each egg receptacle is in the form of a hollowinverted frustum of a cone.
 2. a base joined to said walls upon whichbase the egg will rest in said receptacle c. separators, said separatorsbeing located between and connected to adjacent receptacles, and beingappropriate dimensions to prevent contact between adjacent eggs in suchadjacent receptacles, wherein said receptacles are arranged in saidcontainer in at least two parallel rows provided that a first verticalplane passing through a first axis of each receptacle in a row isperpendicular to a second vertical plane passing through a second axisof adjacent receptacles in adjoining rows, the improvement wherein thebase of each alternate receptacle in any row has a first common planeand each other alternate receptacle base in said row as a second commonplane wherein said second common plane has a level above said firstcommon plane, further provided that the base of a first receptacle in agiven row have a common plane with the base of a first receptacle in agiven row have a common plane with the base of a second receptacle inthe adjoining row.
 3. A carton according to claim 2 wherein theseparators at a junction of four receptacles constituting two parts ofadjacent receptacles in each of two adjoining rows is upwardly tapered.4. A carton according to claim 1 wherein the carton is constructed of asubstantially shock absorbent material.
 5. A carton accordingly to claim4 wherein said shock absorbent material is molded paper pulp.